My Sister, the Serial Killer

Korede worries about Femi’s family bribing the police into action. If her father were alive “he would know what to do” (96), and he was the only one her sister ever feared. Korede is anxious and her room is too clean, so she goes to clean the bathroom: It helps her think. 

Two police officers have come to question Ayoola. Korede and Ayoola have practiced what to say; Ayoola is “already a pro” (99). They do not believe anyone would break up with her, so Ayoola says he “wasn’t really my type” (99), and Korede came to mediate. Femi finally “accepted that things wouldn’t work out” (101). The police want to look at Korede’s car, but their mother refuses.

The next day the police take Korede’s car away “to be rigorously examined” (104), but she knows she has cleaned it. Her sister reminds her of their father who was a sociopath: “Is it in the blood?” (105).

At their father’s commemoration, both sisters wear purple, a color he hated. Tade has come: “He invited himself” (105). Their father had many mistresses, usually college girls whose school fees he paid: “you had to feed the cow before you slaughtered it” (107). After Tade leaves, men vie for Ayoola’s attention.

A man called Gboyega comes to see Ayoola. He is a rich, older, married businessman who funds Ayoola’s fashion business, although Ayoola told Korede the money was “from the revenue from her YouTube videos” (109). Ayoola says he is exciting, whereas Tade “can be so boring. And he is needy” (110). She leaves with Gboyega and does not come back until 1 o’clock in the morning, leaving Korede restless. 

Korede remembers when her father brought home a “banana-colored girl” (114), and, as this was the first time he had brought one home, her mother “was like a banshee” (113). He hit her and went to their bedroom with the girl. The next day, he behaved as if nothing had happened.

On Facebook, Korede finds Gboyega; he has a wife and three sons. They are “the typical upper-middle-class Nigerian family” (115). Ayoola has vanished without informing Korede. Tade calls Korede, but she does not answer. She also checks the Instagram profile of Gboyega’s wife. Today is their anniversary.

The police purposely bring Korede’s car back to her workplace, so they can extract a bribe. She pays them 5000 naira to leave, but not before Chichi notices them. They have not found anything in the car, but they have returned it dirty. Korede lies to Chichi that the car was involved in an accident.

Tade is heartbroken that Ayoola, who is in Dubai with Gboyega has another man. Korede tries to console Tade, telling him he is better off. He claims Ayoola would need less attention from men if Korede supported her more. Korede feels “Ayoola is inconsiderate and selfish and reckless, but her welfare is and always has been my responsibility” (121). She begins to question Tade’s character.

Korede rants to Muhtar while doing his physiotherapy. She thinks of Femi: “He would have figured her (Ayoola) out had he lived” (124). She snaps again at Mohammed for using dirty water to mop.

Ayoola returns from her trip, informing Korede that Gboyega died of food poisoning. Tade arrives, and he and Ayoola kiss passionately. Korede searches the web for information on Gboyega’s death; reports indicate he died from a drug overdose. Korede wonders if his death could be coincidental, or if Ayoola does not always use her knife. Korede adds Gboyega’s name to her notebook.

Korede relates how, according to her family, she thought Ayoola was a doll the first time she saw her as a baby. Her mother told her, for the first time, that “big sisters look after little sisters” (130).

It is Ayoola’s birthday. Mother gives her a dining set, predicting Tade will soon propose. Korede reads Femi’s poetry and leaves an anonymous message on his blog that they should publish his work. Many of Ayoola’s “minions” come to the party. Tade begins apologizing to Korede when Ayoola appears and whisks him away: “They are a very attractive couple; on the outside, at least” (133).

Korede leaves, pondering whether she can see a therapist without disclosing Ayoola’s murders. For the first time, she admits to herself that she loves Tade.

Dr. Akigbe, the senior doctor, promotes Korede to head nurse. Korede is pleased.